Wealth | Fitness

dangerous

It seems like sugar is such a hot topic. Health experts are constantly talking about reducing sugar intakes, switching from one form to another, and more. What’s the truth though? How can someone possibly know what to avoid when it seems like we have to avoid everything?! No wonder so many people give up trying to live healthily! It’s too confusing!

I hear ya! But I’m here to break this sugar thing down the best I can so you can know exactly how to avoid sugar and which sugars to avoid.

First off, let’s take about the negative side effects of sugar and why you don’t want to eat it in excessive amounts.

What Does Sugar Do To The Body?

In today’s world, it’s no surprise sugar is in everything we eat. From soda pop to fruit juices, candy bars to granola bars; there is literally sugar everywhere! About 200 years ago, the average American only consumed around 2 lbs of sugar per year. Today, our intake has increased to about 152 lbs of sugar per year. [1]

Why? Because the food industry is more concerned about making a buck than our child’s health. I mean, if your child gets sick then the medical industry will be booming. It’s a win-win for them, but a lose-lose for us.

The American Heart Association and the World Health Organization recommend that adults should only consume about 5% of their total calories from sugar. For men, this can be 38 grams and for women, it’s less than 25 grams of sugar daily. However, the average can of soda contains as much as 39 grams! Yikes!

So then, realistically, how are we supposed to drink things like soda and still live a healthy lifestyle? This part sucks, but you really can’t. Products like soda have no nutritional value and are void of anything healthy. I wish these kinds of products didn’t exist, but since they do, we just have to say no.

For example, I started removing all sorts of added sugar from my diet. I only allow myself to consume a lot of sugar in one sitting if the food is a fruit. Other than that, I don’t consume soda, juice, sweets, and the like. I haven’t felt bloated and I’ve had more energy.

The good news is once you rewire your taste buds, natural foods (like fruits) will taste so much better! I mean, waaayyy better!

(This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of my links, I’ll receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you so much! Read our full disclaimer here.)

Acne Breakouts

Does it seem like you’ve tried everything under the sun and still cannot get that annoying acne off of your face? The cure may be simpler than you think! Foods filled with sugar cause insulin and blood sugar to spike. This leads to an increase in oil production, androgen secretion, and inflammation. All of these factors greatly impact the skin and can cause acne. [2]

Who would’ve known the foods we eat can have such a powerful effect on our skin?

Don’t believe me? A study conducted with 2,300 teenagers concluded that those who constantly ate foods with added sugar had a greater risk of breaking out with acne by 30% [3] Also, studies prove that diets with low-glycemic (low sugar) levels are directly connected to a lower risk of developing acne. On the other hand, high-glycemic (high sugar) diets yield a much higher risk of producing acne. [4]

The next time you’re about to indulge in that entire box of chocolates, ask yourself if the acne you’ll experience afterward is worth it.

My Experience With High Fructose Corn Syrup

My journey to a healthier life began in 2017. I developed an interest in the human body and became fascinated with studying it. If I’m going to live my life in a human body, shouldn’t I learn how it functions and which ways I can to take care of it?

The Lord did amazing things that year. My walk with God skyrocketed and He began pulling me out of more and more sin. My husband and I stopped drinking, I spoke in tongues for the first time, and my prayer walk was lit.

However, that year the Lord told me to stop drinking soda. I know what it feels like when God convicts me and I knew that if God wanted me to give something up, then He wasn’t going to change His mind. I didn’t understand why, though.

“Really God? Soda?” Nevertheless, I (eventually) gave up soda and alcohol. Afterwards, I began to exercise more and consume more water. Read more

What Is Trans Fat?

Trans fat is created in a factory where they take hydrogen molecules and pump them into vegetable oils. This transforms them from a liquid into a solid. In order to dump the hydrogen molecules into the oil, they must heat it to dangerously high levels and is chemically treated.

Once the oils have been hydrogenated, the oil is now a solid a room temperature and has a much longer shelf life. Vegetable oil now becomes margarine and is used in all sorts of products. This is why cookies can survive so long in the cabinet or why shortening can be used way after purchased.

Why Is Trans Fat Harmful

In November of 2013, the FDA determined that hydrogenated oils are no longer GRAS (generally recognized as safe) for human consumption. There is absolutely nothing natural about trans fats and didn’t exist 50 years ago. They’ve been connected to at least 30,000 premature deaths in the United States each year. Read more

(This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of my links, I’ll receive commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you so much! Read our full disclaimer here.)

The dangers of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) are a real threat. It can cause heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and so much more. When I began my health journey, I was incredibly shocked at how harmful this substance was. It’s more astonishing when you find out how many foods and beverages contain HFCS. I was a bit mad. No longer could I indulge in the foods I once loved. However, my commitment to myself and my family is more important than my pallet’s preferences.

I formed a habit of actively checking the ingredients of the products I purchase. We went on a mission to clear out our cabinets of anything without nutritional value. (A lot of foods left our home that day.) Here are some foods we were challenged to let go of and alternatives we’ve found to satisfy our cravings. Read more

About Me

I'm Ariel Shanelle and I believe anything is possible if you're willing to work for it! That's why I'm here: to help you achieve your goals faster. I'm passionate about helping others in personal development, finances, health, and fitness.